Epilepsy is a disorder affecting more than 2 million people worldwide and is caused by abnormal surges in the electrical circuits of the brain that result in seizures. More than half of those with epilepsy can live seizure-free by taking medications.
Researchers say a new study is under way to determine just how effective surgery is compared to drug therapy when treating those with temporal lobe epilepsy, the most common form of the disorder. Typically, about 80 percent of people who have this type of epilepsy, will be completely free of all seizures after the surgery say specialists.Participants will be people who have had seizures for no more than 2 years and are unable to bring them under control with medications. 200 participants will be offered brain surgery, while the remaining 100 will continue on medications. Both groups then will be monitored for two years to determine which treatment is more effective at eliminating seizures and improving quality of life.
For some patients , the surgery provides a way to get their epilepsy under control , however not all patients respond as well to the surgery, and specialists warn the results of the procedure may not be the same for everyone.
